Florida State’s recruiting class has risen steadily since Willie Taggart took over as head coach in December. He had a lot of ground to make up, as Jimbo Fisher’s staff had, in large part, stopped recruiting. When he took over, Willie Taggart said his goal was to “salvage” the recruiting class, and he looks to be on track to do so. FSU has risen from the 60s to the 20s, and has a legitimate shot to close with a top-15 class.

FSU currently has 12 commitments, including seven of which signed during the new Early Signing Period. The Seminoles have an impressive 66 percent Blue-Chip Ratio in the class at present.

This weekend, they will welcome three visitors on official visits.

Jalen Hall

4-star WR, Long Beach (Calif.) Poly

Hall is a good football player at 6’3, with a thick build and sure hands. He was at one point rated as the No. 1 WR in the nation, though that was as a sophomore and other players have progressed more. Willie Taggart recruited Hall at Oregon, and the Ducks are seen as the top threat, though an Oregon source told me that they are legitimately worried about FSU.

Andrew Chatfield

4-star DE, Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage

Chatfield is an explosive edge rusher. He is not very long at 6’2, 221, but he does convert speed to power quite well and has a variety of moves. Chatfield also has an impressive motor. He is a former teammate at Heritage with FSU’s Brian Burns. Miami and Florida are also seriously involved in his recruitment. He has 41 sacks and 62 TFL in three seasons.

Camren McDonald

4-star TE, Long Beach (Calif.) Poly

McDonald is a bit of a rarity in recruiting — he committed to Florida State before even visiting. McDonald is Hall’s teammate, and Taggart recruited him at Oregon. He is skinny for a tight end at 6’4 and 210 pounds, but has the frame to fill out.

Targets visiting elsewhere

• QB: target James Foster, of Montgomery (Ala.) is visiting Alabama. I still like FSU’s chances here, and believe LSU is the strongest competition. FSU went in-home with Foster yesterday.
• WR: Former FSU commit Antoine Green, of Rockledge (Fla.) is visiting Ohio State. I still like FSU’s chances there. ... Josh Moore, of Yoakum (Texas) is visiting Texas, and I have no idea what to think about him ... Warren Thompson of Seffner (Fla.) Armwood is visiting UNC, and I still like FSU’s chances with him. ... Tre’Shaun Harrison, of Seattle, is visiting Tennessee, and I think that is actually encouraging because it shows an openness to coming East.
• OL: William Barnes, of Apopka (Fla.) is visiting Ole Miss. FSU has an outside shot with Barnes but is not in the driver’s seat.
• DL: Dennis Briggs, of Kissimmee (Fla.) Gateway will be at South Carolina. FSU has put a big push on him following his visit to Miami, and I think this is a true Miami-FSU battle. ... John Mincey, of Homerville (Ga.) Clinch County will be at Tennessee, but like Briggs, FSU expects to get a visit later. ... Jamarcus Chatman was supposed to visit this weekend, but instead will be at Virginia Tech. I am not sure if FSU will get a visit from Chatman.
• DB: Alabama is hosting both Tyson Campbell and Patrick Surtain Jr. FSU is on the extreme outside looking in with the pair from Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage, thanks to the huge hole Jimbo Fisher and his old staff put the Seminoles in.